Interesting Antique Middle Eastern Hand Painted Horse & Figure Art/Writing/Cosmetic Box (Code 1009)

An intriguing Middle Eastern painted small wooden box.  Firstly the exterior is painted in stylised form with a figure on horseback and floral patterns.  The painting is bold and confident and a nicely executed example of the art form.  The painting does look far newer than that box itself, though the painting has some age and is likely mid 20th century.  Opening the box reveals a much earlier interior, the construction is quite simplistic although there is a sliding hinge.  There is a mirror of which the silvering is significantly degraded with age.  The top folding plate has a vacant inset.  It is hard to determine the use, it could have been for art/writing or perhaps theatrical or personal cosmetics or grooming. Tantalisingly there appears to be paper with writing on beneath the mirror, but it is not accessible without breaking the box.  The interior looks perhaps mid 19th century, so significantly older than the exterior decoration.  Overall it's a lovely looking piece with an air of mystery, a most unusual find.

 

Exterior is good general order with some wear, aging and minor losses of paint.  Interior with significant aging, distressed mirror etc.



Approx Dimensions


Height: 6 cm ( 2 3/8 inch )

Width: 20.7 cm ( 8 1/8 inch )

Depth: 14 cm ( 5 1/2 inch )​

Weight: 816 grams (before packing)



Stock Code:  1009  FB18-4